Means for preparing printing plates for application to printing cylinders



w. F. HUCK 2,234,170 MEANS FOR PREPARING PRINTING PLATES FOR APPLICATION TO PRINTING CYLINDERS March 11, 1941.

Original Filed Sept. 2, 1936 3 sheets sheet 1 INVENTOR. W; 2.4%

March 11, 1941. w E K 2,234,170

MEANS FOR PREPARING PRINTING PLATES FOR APPLICATION TO PRINTING CYLINDERS Original Filed Sept. 2, 1936 I 3 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR.

DJ, Q &\\\\ W March 11, 1941. w. F. HUCK 2,234,170

MEANS FOR PREPARING PRINTING PLATES FOR APPLICATION r0 PRINTING CYLINDERS Original Filed Sept. 2, 1936 3 'Sheets-Sheet.5

Arr"? Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES MEAN S FOR PREPARING lRINTING PLATES FOR, APPLICATION TO PBINTING CYL- INDEBS William F. Huck, Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignor to B. Hoe & 00., Inc., Yorlr, N. Y., a cor.-

poration of New York Application September 2, 1936, Serial No. 99,113 Renewed August 3, 1939 19 Claims.

This invention relates to means for preparing printing plates for application to printing cylinders and more particularly to preparing plates for use in rotary lithographic and photogravure web printing machines. The plates used in such types of printing machines are in many instances formed of flexible sheet metal upon a surface of which the design to be printed is produced by well known methods. These plates are wrapped about the printing cylinder, being secured in place by means of suitable devices whereby the adjacent plate ends are drawn closely together to prevent any appreciable gap between the ends thereof and are locked in such position.

A device whereby a flexible printing plate referred to above may be securely wrapped about a cylinder and locked in such position thereon is shown and described in Patent Number 2,051,858, granted August 25, 1936. In the use of this device, it is desired that each end of the plate be bent entirely across the plate, square with its edges, that the bend be located a predetermined distance from the printing form or design, and that plate clamping bars provided on each end of the plate be located a predetermined distance from the bend. The fixture shown in the accompanying drawings and as hereinafter described is particularly useful in the accomplishment of the above desideratum.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a printing plate bending fixture having means to qualify the length of the plate plus its clamping bars before bending the plate.

Another object is to provide in such a fixture, means to positively locate the position of the bend relatively to the printing design on the plate.

Still another object is to provide in such a fixture, means to positively locate the position of the bend relatively to the plate clamping bars.

Still another object is to provide in such a fixture, means to bend a plate, which is adjustable to provide for differences in plate thickness, toinsure squareness oi the bend, and to insure correctness in the location of the bend.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a printing plate registering fixture of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as Well as convenient, practical, serviceable and. efiicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

;whi c h will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

The preferred'embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure -1 is a side elevational view of a plate bending fixture embodying the features ofthis invention;

. Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the fixture shown in Figure 1, looking in the direction of m arrow2;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 of Figure 2, ,but showing the plate clamp in unclamped position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the parts in another position whereby the plate is clamped and the bending operation about to be started;

Figure 5 is another View similar to Figure 3, but showing the position of the parts'directly after a plate end has been bent; 20

Figure 6 is still another viewsimilar to Figure 3, and showingi'the position of the parts after bending and unclamping ofthe plate, and showing the stripping of the plate from the fixture';

Figure 7 is a partial planviewof a partof the fixture looking in the direction" of arrow Tin Figure 1'; and

Figure 8 is a sectionalview of the parts shown in Figure 7 looking in the'direction of'a'rrow 8 30 there-on. The fixture selected to illustrate the features of this invention is particularly designed for "the purpose of preparing and bending a printing plate ll formed' of flexible sheet metal and having a clamping barsecured to each of it"s'ends, which; bar comprises a lower member l2 and'an -upper member [3 which are secured together by screws l' i whereby the respective plate end is clamped therebetween; As referred toabove, the 'p'la'te'll is intended to bewrapped'aboutfa printingcylinder'and retained thereonbysmt'able "devices which use the clamping bars at each endthereof toassist them in so doing. When applied on'the cylinder the bends, one at eachend or the "plate, 45

substantially abut each other, thereby preventing 3 any appreciable gapbein'g produced atith'ispbint.

. Inasmuch as the clamping bars are used byjthe aforesaid device, it is necessary to locate the bend relatively to, the bar. It is also necessary to locate. the, bend relatively to the printing design on the plate in order that the printed matter h r f wi lr e i rr ist h i r i ted matter produced by other plates alsof be p op l l ate new th she e 'na bte :The fixture of this invention is proyidedwith 21.

table-like plate support I The plate support I5 may be constructed of wooden strips I6 mounted upon a frame I! of metal plates, which is supported above the floor by a frame I8 carried bya standard I9. The fixture is provided with a platebending device at each end of the 24 passing through elongated slots 25 formed in.

a flange 26 formed as a part of the bushing 23. An angle bar 21 having flanges 28 and 29, substantially. at right angles'to each other, is disposedzbetweeneach pair of brackets 2| at each e'ndofthe table, I5, with gudgeons 3| extending from each end of the bar 21 journaled in the respective bearing bushing 23. An operating handle 32 extend's. fromthebar 21 and is provided for: the purpose of rocking the bar upon its gud geons 3|. Cooperating spring fingers 33 secured to the underside of the table I5 cooperate to grip the handle. 32 and, retain it ,in inoperative position. In its inoperative position the flange 28 is disposed in .aohorizontal plane with its operable surface in alignment with the upper surface of the table I5, and the flange 29 is vertically dis,-

posed. A stopmember 34 disposed between the fingers 33;,isadapted to positively insure such position of the flanges 28 and 29 due to the en- ,gagementof the handle 32 therewith.

.,The flange 28 is provided with a groove 35 which extends the length of the flange and is of proper width and depth to receive the lower -member 2 of the .plate clamping bar. In cooper- -ation withthe groove 35 in the flange 28 at the other, end. of the table |5, the plate II with its clamping bars'may, be qualified as to length by .the'disposial of a clamping bar in each groove 35 and adjusting the clamped plate between the .l-members I2 and I3 thereof; Adjustmentof the eccentric bearing bushing 23 permits slight changes in the distance between the grooves 35 .for the purpose of gauging the distance between the ,.printing design on the plate- H and the plate clamping bar. A blade 36 is disposed at eachsideof the table I5 whereby the printing design maybe squared with the edge of the frame I1 and disposed parallel with the plate clamping bar. Each of the brackets 31 maybe secured in place on'the frame I1 by means of a clamping setscrew 38, thus permitting the operation of the fixture upon a plurality of similar plates and insuring the same dimensions in the location of the printing design relatively to the clamping bar on each.

A pair of arms il and 42 are swingably mount:- ed upon each of thegudgeo-ns of each of the angle bars 21. Extending between the arms 4| and 42 of each pair is a clamping member 43 which is secured to the arms and'is swingable therewith by means of a handle 44 secured to the member 43 by screws 45. The member has a plateengaging surface 46 which, in this instance, is preferably covered by a sheet of soft felt 41 clamped to'the member 43 by securing bars 48 and 49 and screws 5|. Posts 52, extending upwardly from each bracket 2|, have upon their upper ends a swingable lever 53 pivoted to the respective post by a screw 54. One end 'of each of the levers 53 is provided with a camming surface 55 adapted to engage a camming surface 56 formed on the upper surface of each of the arms 4| and 42 when the member 43 is in engagement with a plate II on the table I5 to securely clamp the plate between the same. The other end of each of the levers 53 is extended to provide an operating handle 51' therefor;

A' bar of metal forming a bending head 58 is disposed on edge against the surface of the flange 29 of the angle bar 21 and secured thereto by screws 59 which pass through elongated openings 6| in the flange 29 and thread into the edge of the head 58 abutting the flange. The other ,edge62 of the head 58 is rounded over and cooperates with the edge of a swingable plate stripping bar 63 provided at and extending across the end of' the table l5 to bend the plate II. The head 58 extends along the flange 29 substantlally its entire length. Alignment of the head 58 on the flange 29 permitted by the elongated openings 6| and" of the. eccentric bushing 23 in which the gudgeons 3| are journaled compensates for variations in thickness of the plate II and 'permits correct alignment of the rounded edge 62 of the head 58, with'the plate stripping bar 63. While the angle bar 21 is being swung to bend a plate by means of the operating handle 32 the plate clamping bar I2, |3 is released from the groove 35 in the flange 28. 1 V

The plate stripping bar 63 is provided with gudgeons 64, one at each end, which is'journaled in the adjacent bracket 2|. dle 65 is secured to the bar 63 by screws 66 and extends downwardly and outwardly into convenient reach of the operator. The bar 63 is operated after a plate II has been bent to raise the bent end of the plate to readily moval from the fixture.

The provisio-nfin a plate bending fixture of the type above described, of means to clamp and bend both ends of a plate including means to locate the bend both in respect to the printing designon the plate and to the, end of the plate or to plate clamping members secured thereon, results in accurate and eflicient preparation of a printing plate for use on and securement to a printing cylinder. By the use of aflxture as'described above, a plate I I having a printing design thereon, may be located in respect to its endclamping bars I2, l3, dueto the gauge blades 36 and the grooves 35 'inithe flange 28'of the angle An operating han- 1' permit its reig bar 21 to be parallel therewith and with th e barslv I2, I3 square with the, side edges of the plate. The eccentric bushing 23 permits the correct location, of the grooves 35 in respect to the outer edgeo-f the bar 63 over which the plate is bent.

The distance between the bends is controlled'byi e5 bending a number "of similar" lates. In "addition-to the above, provision of the stripping bar 63, whereby the bent plate ends are raised, permits ready removal therefrom without afiecting the bend or in any manner distorting the plate.

The operations performed during the use of this fixture may comprise the placement of clamping bars 12, I3 in the grooves 35, the placement of a plate H on the table l5, (see Figure 3), the use of the gauge blades 36 to locate the printing design on the plate in respect to the plate end clamping bars l2, l3 and then the clamping of the plate between the bars. The plate II is then securely clamped to the table l5 by the clamping members 43 by operation of the levers 53 (see Figure 4), and then bent about the edge of the stripping bar 63 by the swinging of the angle bar 21 and the cooperating head 58 (see Figure 5). After bending the plate II, the clamping member 43 is released and swung upwardly, the angle bar 21 is swung upwardly and away, and the stripping bar 63 rocked on its gudgeons to raise the bent end of the plate to remove it from the fixture (see Figure 6).

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and it will be ,further understood that each and every novel feature and combination present in or possessed by the mechanism herein disclosed forms a part of the invention included in this application.

What I claim is:

1. In a bending fixture for a plate having an end clamping part thereon, a plate supporting table, a member disposed at one end of said table and having a recess to receive the plate end clamping part to locate the plate end relatively to the end of the table, a bending head adapted to engage the plate end and bend the plate about the end of the table, and means to substantially simultaneously actuate said head and said member to bend the plate and to release the plate end clamping part from the recess in said receiving member.

2. In a bending fixture for a plate having an end clamping member thereon, a plate supporting table having a swingable end portion, a member disposed at one end of said table to receive the plate end clamping member and to locate the plate end relatively to the end of the table, a bending head adapted to engage the plate end and bend the plate about the swingable end portion of said table, means to actuate said head to bend the plate, and means to swing the said table end portion.

3. In a bending fixture for a plate having an end clamping part thereon, a plate supporting table, a member disposed at one end of said table and having a recess to receive the plate end clamping part to locate the Plate end relatively to the end of the table, means to clamp the plate upon the table, a bending head adapted to engage the plate end and bend the plate about the end of the table, means to actuate said head and said member to substantially simultaneously bend the plate and to release the plate end clamping part from the recess in said receiving member, and means to release said plate clamping means.

4. In a bending fixture for a plate having an end clamping member thereon, a plate supporting table having a swingable end portion, a member disposed at one end of said table to receive the plate end clampin member and to locat the plate end relatively to the end or the'table, means to clamp he late up he ta le, a bending head dapted t en age the plate end and bend the plate about the swingable end portion of said table, means to actuate said head to bend the plate, means to swing the table end portion, and means to release said plate clampingmeans.

n a fix re for be d ng a lat havin a p ti d s n he n, a ta le for supportin the plat a sw nsa le end d o id t b about which the plate is to be bent, means. to insure that, the printing design is parallel with the table end edge, means to clamp the plate on said table, means to bend the plate ab l t the table end edge, and means to swing the table member being mounted for swinging movement, D

a first one of said flanges being adapted toposition the plate relatively to said edge, and a member on the second of said flanges extending parallel to the first flange to engage the plate and bend it about said edge when the flanges are swung in one direction.

8. In a fixture for bending a plate, a plate support having an edge about which the plate is to be bent, a member substantially in alignment with the support and being adapted to locate the}.

plate on said support relatively to said edge,

a bending head above and extending toward the support to engage the plate and bend it about said edge, common means to carry said head and said member and being operable to actuate said plate bending head and to simultaneously re move said plate'locating member from its operative positon, and means to insure the replacement of said plate locating member in plate locating position.

port having an edge about which the plate is to be bent, a member substantially in alignment with the support and being adapted to locate the plate on said support relatively to said edge,-::

a bending head above and extending toward-the support to engage the plate and bend it about said edge, common means to carry said head and said member and being operable to actuate said plate bending head and to simultaneously" remove said plate locating member from its operative position. means to insure the replacement of said plate locating member in plate locating position, and means to adjust said carrymg.

means to vary the position of said plate locating member relatively to said edge.

10. In a fixture for bending a plate having a. printing design thereon and a clamping bar on its end edge, a rockably mounted member having flanges, one of said flanges being at an angle to the other, a plate support, a first one of said flanges having a recess adapted to receive the clamping bar on the plate and a second one of said flanges having a plate engaging and bend- 9. In a fixture for bending a plate, a platesupe the plate by said bending head. 1 a

ing head thereonextending over and parallel end edge, a rockably mounted member having flanges, one of said flanges being at an angle to the other, a plate support, a first one of said flangesjbeing substantially in alignment with said support and having a recess adapted to receive the clamping bar on the plate and a second one of said flanges having a plate engaging and bending head thereon extending over and parallel to the firstflange, and means to rock said member to remove the clamping bar from the plate receiving recess in 'the first flange and to engage 12. In a fixture for bending a plate having a printing design thereon and a clamping bar on its'end'edge, a rockably mounted member havingflanges, one of' said flanges being at an angle to the othenaplate support, a first one of said flanges being substantially in alignment with said support and having a recess adapted to receive the clamping bar on the plate and a second one of said flanges having a plate engaging and bending head thereon extending over and parallel to the first flange, means to rock said member to remove the clamping bar from the plate receiving recess in the first flange and to engage the plate'by said bending head, and means to engage said rocking means when said plate receiving flange is in position to receive a clamping bar.

13. In a fixture for bending a plate having a printing design thereon and 'a clamping bar on its end edge, a rockably mounted member having flanges, one of said flanges being at an angle to the other, a plate support, a first one of said flanges being substantially in alignment with said support and having a recess adapted to receive the clamping bar on the plate and a second one of said flanges having a plate engaging and bending head thereon extending over and parallel to the first flange, means to rock said member to remove the clamping bar from the plate re-' 'ceiving recess in thefirst flange and to engage the plate-bysaid bending head, means to engage said rocking means" when said plate receiving flange is in position to receive a clamping bar, and means associated with said last named means to insure the return of said clamping bar receivingflange intothe same position at each operation.

114s In ahfixture for bending a plate adjacent its end, a table for supporting the plate, a freely swingable; plate stripping bar extending across an end of said table and about an edge of which the plate is to be bent, means to engage and bend the plate in onedirection about the edge of the ing a swingable end edge portion about which the plate is to be bent, a rockable bar extending across the table in front of the table end edge portion, a plate end edge locating member attached to and extending from. said bar toward the table end edge portion, a bending head attached to said bar,lspaced above and extending over said locating member, to engage the plate end and bend it over the table end edge portion, and means to rock said bar.

16. In a fixture for locating a clamping bar upon an end of, and for bending, a plate having a printing design thereon, atable for supporting the plate and having an end edge about-which the plate-is to be bent, means to locate the printing design on the platerelatively to the table end edge, means to releasably hold a clamping bar 'to be secured to the end of said plate and to locate said bar with respect to the printing design on the plate, means to bend the plate about the table end edge, and means to actuate said bar holding means and said plate. bending means to release the bar and bend the plate.

' 17. In a fixture for bending a platehaving a printing design thereon and for locating a clamping bar upon an end of the plate, a table for supporting the plate and having an end edge about which the plate is to be bent, means to locate the printing design on the plate relatively to the table end edge,-means to receive and releasablyhold a clamping bar to be secured to the plate end and to locate said bar with respect to the printing design on'the plate, means to clamp the plate on said table, means to bend the plate about the table end edge, and common means to actuate the bar holding means to release the bar, and the bending means to bend the plate.

. 18. In a fixture for bending a plate, means to support a plate, a member adapted to engage and to bend a plate on said support about an edge thereof, a member to locate the bend in a predetermined position relatively to the end of the plate, said members extending toward the end edge of said support about which the plate'is to be bent'and being parallel to and spaced from each other, common pivoting means for said members, means to adjust said pivoting means to vary the position of the bend, and means to swing said members upon the pivoting means,

to be bent, a member having a flange extending substantially at right angles thereto from one edge thereof, said flange being in substantial alignment with said support, said memberbeing pivotally mounted to swing its other edge toward said support edge while the flange is swung away therefrom, and a bending head mounted on said member and extending parallel to said flange to engage the plate and'bend'it about the support edge as the edge of the member upon which it is mounted is swung toward the support edge.

WILLIAM F. HUCK. 

